Music and Conversation: The Fairfield Four

Nashville’s vibrant, pioneering Black gospel and R&B scene played an important role in building the city’s reputation as one of the world’s leading music centers. The Fairfield Four, an a cappella gospel quartet founded in Nashville more than one hundred years ago, has been instrumental in preserving and revitalizing one of the oldest styles of traditional gospel singing. They were named National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellows in 1989, received the Tennessee Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994, were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 1999, and have won three Grammys. During this program, Levert Allison, Larrice Byrd, Bobbye Sherrell, Joe Thompson, and George Woods—current or recently retired members of the Fairfield Four—will discuss the group’s history and legacy with Jerry Zolten, a Penn State educator, author, leading expert on Black gospel music, and producer of two Fairfield Four albums. The program will also include a brief performance. Presented in support of the exhibition Night Train to Nashville: Music City Rhythm & Blues Revisited. Ford Theater. Included with Museum admission. Program ticket required. Free to Museum members.
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